Ireland had more deaths than in a normal year in March & April but CMO says trend stopped in May

No covid-19 patients were reported to have died yesterday for the first day since March -- while 18 further cases were confirmed here.

Locally there were no new cases confirmed in Cavan with the total there remaining at 860, while Monaghan had one new confirmed case bringing the total number to 535.

It's emerged Ireland had more deaths than in a normal year in March and April -- but the Chief Medical Officer says that trend stopped in May.

He was responding to analysis published by the Business Post at the weekend based on death notices.

It argued Ireland's "excess deaths" up to the start of May were higher than in other European countries.

But Dr Tony Holohan says the elevated death rate here hasn't lingered the same way.